Automatic air and steam brake coupling



(No Model.) 4 Shee-tsSheet '1.

W. J'. PUGH. AUTOMATIC AIR AND STEAM BRAKE COUPLING.

No. 601,905. Patented Apr. 5, 1898.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Y (No Model.)

W. J. PUGH. AUTOMATIC -.A'IR AND STEAM BRAKE COUPLING. No. 630L905.

Patented Apr. 5, 1898.

i a i (No Model.) T j 4=S heet s Sh'ee t-3f W. J. PUGH. AUTOMATIC AIRAND STEAM BRAKE COUPLING. 7 No. 601,905. Patented Apr. 5, 1898.

.NITED STAT- Rs PATENT anion.

WILLIAM J. PUGH, or MUSOATINE, lowA, AssIeNoR o THE WALTER AUTO-' MATIOAIR ooUPLER COMPANY, or CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA.

AUTOMATIC AIR AND STEAM BRAKE COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 601,905, dated April 5,1898. Application filed June 29, 1897- Serial No. 642,875. (No inOdeL)To all whom it mag/concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM J. PUGH, of Muscatine, in the county ofMuscatine and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Automatic Air and Steam Brake Couplings and I herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact descriptionthereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which formpart of this specification.

This invention is an improved automatic coupling for fluid-pressurebrakes and steamheating systems of railway-cars; and its object is toprovide a coupling reliable in operation, which will perfectly couple oruncouple the fluid-pipes without manual handling,sub-

' stantially like the automatic draft-couplings,

will cifectively shut off the air when the cars are uncoupled, and willin case of accidental breakage or pulling apart of the cars or couplingsthrow open the valves, soas to apply the brakes, and thus warn'thetrainmen of the accident and prevent running away of the' car or train.

The invention therefore embraces some broadly'new features ofconstructionand in addition thereto other-minor details of constructionand combinations of parts, all of which will be fully understood fromthe fol'- lowing description and'claims in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in 'whichj Fig. 6 is a transverse section on line6 6, Fig.

3. Figs. 7, 8, and 9 are details.

The two interlocking heads of the automatic fluid-pressure couplingareconstructed identically alike,.and a description of one applies equallyto the other, so that I shall describe the construction of one and referto the similar parts of the other by similar letters of reference.

The coupling-head A is suspended beneath the draw-bar W by means of twohangers X, which loosely embrace the head, and their legs are connectedbelow the head to side bars a: by means of bolts 00, which boltspassunder the head and sustain it in position. The head lies on thebolts and is free to move up and down but this vertical play is limitedby means of bolts X, tapped into the heads and projecting through slotsX in the legs of.

the front hanger X, as shown. The hangers may be suspended directly fromthe draw-bar W, but preferably are suspended from a horizontalbar Z,which is fastened to the drawbar bybolts'Z, as shown, so that the headcan swing laterally and longitudinally in relation to and beneath thedraw-bar W, besides the vertical play in thehangers above mentioned. Thehangers and head are normally pushed forward, so as to stand slightly inadvance of the'draW-bar W by means of the cushioning-spring z, which iscontained in a tube 2, the upper end of which is suspended from bar Z,as shown in Fig. 1, a plunger a telescoping into the tube '2 andconnected to the rear ends of bar 00, so that when the head is pushedbackward spring 2 is compressed,

and when the head is released the spring pushes the head forward, aswill be obvious from the drawings. I

The coupling-head has a female part A and a male part A The parts A Aspring from a common body and lie side by side, and part A of one headwill fit pretty accurately into part A of the opposite head. The outerend of part A is flaring, as shown, and the outer end of part-A isprovided with a hooked nose A ,"as shown. "The inner face of part A isstraight, vertical, and smooth, so that when coupled the parts A of thecouplers fit close against each other, Fig. 2. Part A is hollow, andwithin it is a transversely-movable j ointing-plug B, which has abeveledlug B on its outer side which normally. projects slightly beyondthe outer face of part A throughan opening in the wall of the latter,Fig; 3. The jointing is normally pressed back by means of springs 13,fastened in the hollow part A above and below the plug and pressingagainst lugs B on the top and bottom of the plug, as shown. Through theplug is a passage B which extends from the inner side of the blockaround to the rear side thereof and either communicates with a shortflexible pipe 0, which is tightly connected to a nipple B on thejointing-plug and to a nipple A at the base of and within the part A, asshown,

flange b extending inwardly from the edge of flange 11 These flanges fltinto corresponding recesses in the jointing-plug and, constructed asshown and described, form a perfect gasket, which will prevent leakageof air around it and will withstand great pressure against flange b andbe capable of more wear and give better service than the ordinary formsof gaskets heretofore employed. This gasket I consider very useful notonly in the connection. shown,but in other fluid high-pressurejointings.

The nipple A communicates with a passage-Way A, that extends backthrough the shank of the head and communicates with a transverse passageA which is connected at one side of the head with the main pipe U of theordinary fluid-pressure brake system or heating system. At the otherside of the head passage A is connected to a short pipe Y, which isprovided with an ordinary fluidpressure hand coupling-head y. Thislatter is to be used only in case of breakage of the automatic couplingor when the opposite car is not provided with the automaticcouplings.Passage A is provided with a hand-valve A, by which communication withpipe Y is ordinarily closed.

An automatically-operated valve D is placed in passage A intermediatepart A and passage A this valve having an angular plate D on its upperend, against the edge of which presses a spring D which is adapted toinsure the full opening or closing of the valve and holds it so. To onecorner of said plate, at the side opposite spring D is pivoted the innerend of a valve-rod E, which extends forward through a suitable passage'11 in the head, Figs. 2, 4, and 5, its front end overlying the socketin the inner end of part A, as shown, and being provided with a hook E,which is adapted to engage with the hooked nose A of part A of anopposite coupling when it enters part A. When rod E is fully drawn out,Fig. 4, its hooked end rides upon a bevel a at the front end of passagea, causing it to disengage the nose A at the proper time as it is beingdrawn outward by the latter. A slot a in the bottom of passage a permitsthe hook Ct to engage with the nose A On the inner end and upper side ofrod E is a rearwardly-beveled lug E, for a purpose hereinafterexplained.

Attached to the under side of rod E and depending therefrom through slota is a pin E, which engages a slotted lug e on the rear end of a slide6, which is fitted close to the inner face of part A and is upheld andguided by means of flanges e resting and guided in slots e in the faceof part A Figs. 4 and 9, or the plate may be attached to the face ofpart A in any desired manner, so that it fits neatly thereagainst andcan slide freely. Preferably the face of part A is recessed, asindicated in Fig. 2, so that when the coupling is effected and the platemoved back as far as it can go it is out of the way.

The main body of the plate is thin and flat and one of its uses is toserve as a valve for closing the opening in the jointing-plug B when theheads are uncoupled, thus preventing dust entering and clogging theair-passage. When the heads are uncoupled, Fig. 3, the plate e projectsover the opening in jointing-plug B and is held thereagainst by means ofthe pin E pressing against the lug e, as is evident from the drawings.When the heads come together in coupling,however,

the nose A strikes lugc and pushes plate e backward, thereby, throughpin E forcing rod E backward and opening valve D, as hereinafterdescribed.

A spring E is placed in passage a over rod E, so as to press the outerend of the latter down toward the lug e and nose A3, then engagetherewith, thus preventinghook E disengaging the nose until hook Estrikes bevel a.

F designates a rod lying beside rod E in a recess a in the top of part Aand projecting slightly beyond the center line of the jointing-plug B orbeyond the. rod E. (See Figs. 4 and 5.) This rod is pushed outwardly bya strong coiled spring F, surroundingitwithin recess a The inner end ofrod F is bent down, so as to lie close to plate D, and in it is formed awide V-notch, the opposite sides F F of the notch forming wedges, forthe purpose hereinafter explained. The inner extremity of rod F isprovided with a lug F which is adapted to be engaged by a bevel f on averticallymovable bar f, lying in a vertical opening in the head at oneside of passage A and in front of valve A, as shown. The upper end ofrod f is connected by a balland-socket joint f to the lower end of a rodG, which extends up throngha guide-bracket Z depending from bar Z, Fig.2. The rod G also extends through a slotted clutch g, hinged to a clipor ring g, firmly secured to the lower end of the locking-pin W of thedraw-bar W, below which the head A is suspended. These parts are soarranged that when the locking-pin W is raised, so as to release thelocking-hook of the coupling W, clutch g grips rod G and pulls it up andwith it bar f, which will cause bevel f to engage lug F of rod F andpull the rod backward if the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2.

H designates a stiff flat spring lying athwart and above plate D and theinner end of rod F in position to be engaged by the lug E on the innerend of rod E when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2. Thefunction of spring H is to automatically open valve D in case ofbreakage of the couplings W or their pulling loose from the cars and theconsequent pulling apart of heads A. The function of rod F is to keepspring H out of operative position, except in case of accident This willbe hereinafter explained.

Operation: Two opposite coupling-heads are suspended beneath twoopposite drawbars, the position of the interior parts of the heads A Abeing well indicated in Fig. 3.

' As the cars come together the male parts A of the heads coincide withand enter the female parts A, and the noses A striking lugs 6, pushplates 6 back with rods E, thereby turning plates D so as to open valvesD. Simultaneously thejointing-plugs B B come opposite each other, andthe lugs B, striking the flaring sides of the parts A, are forced inwardtoward each other, making an airtight joint between the gaskets b, sothat air passes from one head to the other. Simultaneously also rodsF Fstrike each other and are both forced slightly backward,so that theirlugs F lie above the bevels f of bars f, the parts then being in theposition shown in Fig. 2 and air circulating freely therethrough."lhespring H,.it will be observed, then lies in v the bottom of thenotch in rod F and in front of lug E of rod E. Now if it is desired touncouple the cars pin W, say,.of thelefthand coupling is lifted,releasing the locking-hooks of couplings W and at same time liftingbarf, whose bevel f catches lug F of rod F and pulls said rod totheleft, so as to cause wedge F to pass under spring H and lift it up outof the way of lug E or rod E, so that the latter can pull the valveclosed as the heads separate. left-hand coupler-head A allows rod F inthe right-hand head to be moved outwardbyits spring F so that spring IIin said. lefthand head is raised by its wedge F so as not to interferewith the free outward movement of its rod E,.which,closes the valve inthe.

right-hand head. As the heads separate,

7 therefore, under these circumstances nosehooks A engage hooks E,causing rods E to close valves D and plates e to close thejointing-plugs B B, which are separated instantly by the action ofsprings B". When thelocking-pin WV and rod f drop, rod F is freed frombar f and the parts are ready to couple again. Supposing the. parts inthe position shown in Fig. 2 once more and that the draw-bars breakloose or some accident causes one car to break. away from the other, the

rods E will be pulled outward before orsimulon rods E will catch thesprings H and ten-;

sion them, and as soon as hooks E are disengaged from noses A by thebevels a springs.

This pull of rod F in the H will throw rods E back, opening the valves Dand thus applying the brakes to the cars or train automatically.

Thus the coupling is automatic in coupling, in uncoupling, and inapplying the brakes in case of accidental breaking apart of the train Ilocking heads, each having a female portion and a hollow male portion, ajointing-plug in the male portion, springs for moving the j ointing-plug outward; an air-passage in the head a valve in-said air-passageand a rod for operating said valve projecting forward in the femaleportion and adapted-to engage the end of the male portion of theoppositecoupling so as to open the valve when the heads interlock, and. so as toclose the valves when the .heads disengage; and means for disengagingsaidrod from the male portion of the heads after the valve-is closed,substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In an automatic fluid-pressure coupling, the combination of theopposite similar interlooking heads each having a male and femaleportion substantially as described; an air-v passage in the maleportion, a jointing-plug in the male portion communicating with saidair-passage, a rotary valve in said passage, a hooked rod for turningsaid valve projecting ,into the female portion and adapted to engage V.a hookon the .end of the male portion of the opposite coupling; and abevel for causing the rod to disengage .the male portion. after thevalve is closed, substantially as and for the purpose described. v

. 3.- In an automatic fluid-pressure coupling, the combination of. theopposite similar interlocking heads, each having a hollow male portion,a. jointing-plug in the male portion-,-

springs for moving the j ointing-plug outward, a flexible pipeconnectionbetween the jointing-plugs and air-passage in the head; a valve in saidair-passage; and a rod for operating said valve projecting forward inthefemale portion and adapted to engage the end of the male portion ofthe opposite coupling so asto open the valve when the heads interlock,and so as to close the valves when. the heads disengage; and means fordisengaging said rod from the male portion of the heads after the valveis closed; and means for separating the jointing-plugs.laterally, as theheads separate, all substantially asand for the purpose set forth.

4.. In an automatic fluid-pressure coupling, the combination of theinterlockingheads, the air-passages therein, the valves insaid-passages, and means for operating said valves substantially asdescribed; with asliding plate or valve adapted to close. the outlet ofthe air-passage in the-heads when. they are. disconnected to prevent theentrance .of

dust, &c., substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. In an automatic fluid-pressure coupling the combination of theinterlocking heads, each having a male and female portion substantiallyas described, an air-passage in the male portion, a jointing-plug in themale por' tion communicating with the air-passage, a valve in saidair-passage and means for operating said valve; with a sliding valve orcover for the outlet in the jointing-plug, means for moving it out ofthe way when the heads are coupled, and for moving it back to place whenthe heads are disengaged ,substantially as described.

6. In an automatic fluid-pressure coupling the combination of theopposite similar interlocking heads, each having ahollow male portioncommunicating with the air-passage, a valve in said air-passage, asliding cover for the outlet of the air-passage, and connections betweensaid cover and valve whereby when the valve is opened the cover iswithdrawn, substantially as and for the purpose described.

7. In an automatic fluid-pressure coupling, the combination of theinterlocking similar heads each having a hollow male portion, a jointing-plug therein communicating with the air-passage in the body ofthe head, a main valve in said passage, a sliding valve or cover for theoutlet of the plug; a sliding rod for operating said main valve having apin engaging a slotted lug in said cover, whereby when the valve isopened the cover is drawn out of the way, all substantially as and forthe purpose set forth.

8. In an automatic fluid-pressure coupling, the combination of theopposite similar interlocking heads each having a male and femaleportion substantially as described, an air-passage in the male portion,a jointing-plug in the male portion communicating with said air-passage,a rotary valve in said passage, a hooked rod for turning said valveprojecting into the female portion and adapted to engage a hook on theend of the male portion of the opposite coupling; and a bevel forcausing the rod to disengage the male portion after the valve is closed;with avalve for closing the outlet of the jointing-plug, and connectionssubstantially as described, between said cover-valve and the said rod,all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. In an automatic fluid-pressure coupling, the combination of the headprovided with an air-passage, a valve therein a rod for operating saidvalve adapted to be actuated by the opposite head substantially asdescribed, a spring adapted to open said valveif the heads are pulledapart accidentally, and means substantially as described, for keepingsaid spring out of action while the parts are in normal condition, forthe purpose and substantially as described.

10. In an automatic fluid-pressure coupling, the combination of the headprovided with an air-passage, a valve therein, mechanism for opening andclosing said valve automatically by the action of the opposite head incoupling and uncoupling; with means substantially as described, forautomatically opening said valve if the heads are pulled apart becauseof accident, substantially as and for the purpose described.

11. In an automatic fluid-pressure coupling, the combination of the headprovided with an air-passage, a valve therein, mechanism for opening andclosing said valve automatically by the action of the opposite head incoupling and uncoupling; with means substantially as described, forautomatically opening said valve if the heads are pulled apart becauseof accident, and means substantiall y as described for keeping saidmeans out of operative position when the parts are in normal workingcondition, for the purpose and substantially as described.

12. In an automatic fluid-pressure coupling, the combination of theopposite similar heads each having a hollow male portion provided withan air-passage, a valve therein,

the hooked rod as E for operating said valve adapted to be actuated bythe opposite head; a spring H adapted to open said valve should theheads he accidentally pulled apart; a rod F adapted to prevent saidspring engaging rod E when the parts are in normal working condition orrelation; and a vertically-movable bar f, adapted to engage and shiftrod F so as to cause it to throw spring H out of operative position whenthe devices are to be uncoupled in ordinary working, substantially asand for the purpose set forth.

13. In an automatic fluid-pressure coupling, the combination of thecoupling-head having an air-passage, a rotary valve therein, a rod as Efor operating said valve, a spring H adapted to engage rod E to opensaid valve; and a rod as Flying beside rod E and adapted to preventspring H engaging the latter, for the purpose and substantially asdescribed.

14:. In an automatic fluid-pressure coupling, the combination of thecoupling-head having an air-passage, a rotary valve therein, a rod as Efor operating said valve, a spring H adapted to engage rod E to opensaid valve; and a rod as F lying beside rod E and adapted to preventspring H engaging the latter; and the beveled bar f adapted to shift rodF so as to cause it to control spring H as described; with thelocking-pin of the draft draw-bar, the clutch pivoted thereto, and therod sliding through said clutch and connected to bar f, whereby bar f israised with the lockingpin, all substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

15. The combination of the head having hollow male portion A and femaleportion A, with the spring-retracted plug B in part A, a flexibleconnection between said plug and an air-passage in the body of the head,the valve D in said air-passage, the plate D and hooked rod E foroperating said valve,

all substantially as and for the purpose described.

16..The combination. of the ,head having hollow male portion'A andfemale portion A, with the spring-retracted 'plug B in part A, aflexible connection between said plug and an air-passage in the body ofthe head,

the Valve D in said air-passage, the plate D and hooked rod E foroperating said valve; with the sliding cover-valve 6, having lug eengaged by a pin on rod E, an substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

17. The combination of the head having hollow male portion A and femaleportion A,vwith the spring-retracted plug B in part A, a flexibleconnection between said..plug and an air-passage in the bodyfof thehead,

the valve D in said air-passage, the plateD" and hooked rod E'foroperating said valve; with the spring H, the double-beveled rod F forthrowing said spring out of engagement with rod E, and means foroperating rod F, all

substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

18. The combination of the head having hollowmale portion A and femaleportion A, with the spring-retracted Y plug B in part A, a flexibleconnection between said plug and an air-passage in the body of the head,I

19. Theherein-described packing-ring b,-

having lateral flanges 19 provided with flaring flange 19 for thepurpose and substantially as described. 1

20. The herein-described packing-ring b,

' for the purpose described, having lateral flanges 1), 17 at its ends,and a flaring flange b on the edge of flange 12 substantially asdescribed.

121. The combination of the draw-bar, the plate Z suspended thereunder,the, pair of swingingshackles X, X, suspended from said plate, the barsa: connecting the shackles, the

telescoping plunger and tube connecting bars 00 to the. plate, and thecushioning-spring in the tube; with the fluid-pressure couplingsupported in said shackles, and the bolts X thereon engaging slots X inthe front shackle,

all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

i122; The combination of the opposite heads Aeach' having a hollow maleportion as A and. female portion as A substantially as describedpa valveD in the hollow passage in part A an angular plate D on the Valve D,

and aspring D pressing against the edge of said plate for throwing andholding the valve fnllyjopen or closed, all substantially as described.v

- 23. The combination of the head having hollow male portion A andfemale portion A, with the spring-retracted plug B in part A, a flexibleconnection between said plug and an air-passage in the body of the head,

the valve D in said air-passage, the plate D andhooked rod E foroperating said Valve,

and the spring D bearing against the edge of said plate to throw andhold the valve fully open or-clo'sed,'all substantially as and for thepurpose described.

111 testimony that I claim the foregoing as.

my own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM J. PUGH.

In presence of- J. I-LVAIL, WM. N. WALLACE.

